“It’s better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb.” This is what Mark Chester O. Pidor has in mind every time he faces a new challenge, such as when he opened his dream reggae joint — the Lions Reggae Bar and Plates — on Juan Luna St., Davao City last February 25.
Pidor graduated from Ateneo de Davao University with degrees in Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication in 2003, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007.
“All that I learned from school were how to get by when already exposed to real life,” he said, noting his experiences in community nursing that gave him more exposure.
Becoming an entrepreneur was not one of the top goals for this 29-year old bachelor, but a courageous choice to move on after he lost a chance to achieve his first dream. His mind was already set to work as a nurse in New Zealand when his application for a visa was denied in December of 2010.
“I thought of putting up a bar last December. I am simply overconfident. Kung naa man gyud kay gusto buhaton, mabuhat gyud na nimo kung gustuhon nimo,” he said.
What makes him so self-confident? Pidor said, “Even millionaires start out from scratch. Dili tanan nidatu diretso.” This philosophy led him to try engaging in business. “Dili man ka kabalo kung wala nimo nasulayan,” he said, adding that there’s nothing to worry about as long as one does not step on other people’s feet.
With self-study helping him to achieve what he desires, Pidor believes that “Success is an opportunity waiting for a chance.” If one is given an opportunity, he said, it is very probable that he or she will succeed.
He relates this to his opportunity to work in New Zealand where last February an earthquake with magnitude of 6.3 hit Christchurch, the exact location where he was supposed to be deployed, killing 65 people. “Ana ang Ginoo, gina-arrange na sa imo. Hulat lang ka,” he said.
An aficionado of street art and reggae music, Pidor did not hesitate to open his bar, materializing his concepts related to this interest. “Ingon ani gyud nga bar ang gusto nako,” he said.
On the exterior, a freedom wall, which used to be plain white, is now filled with graffiti by his friends and customers. Inside the bar, artworks of Pidor’s artist friends are posted on the walls, including portraits of Bob Marley, known as the father of reggae music. And, for the entire evening, reggae music complements the mood to chill out and relax.
The only reggae bar in Davao City, Lions Bar welcomes local bands to perform during its occasional reggae gigs, gathering Dabawenyos of all ages who are artists and/or enthusiasts of arts and music. “Lingaw kaayo. Enjoy kaayo siya. Murag everyday reunion sa mga amigo. Everyday naa koy makaila,” Pidor said.
Wearing his dreadlocks with pride, Pidor has a heart for reggae music because of its feel for love, equality and life. “Positive vibe ang reggae, dili lang genre lang sa music,” he said. That’s why he wears his hair in dreadlocks, and so with some of his friends who help him manage the daily operations of the bar.
“Mao nang mga dreadlocks ang mga tao diri. Usually, nagasaway dayun ang mga tao based on appearance. Pero kami dreadlocks, tao man gihapon mi. Gusto nako i-break ang stereotyping,” he said.
When asked whether or not he feels threatened by the fact that many bars in Davao City lasted only a few months after opening, Pidor said, “Mura ra nag life, challenge. Dili man sa tanan panahon ikaw ang bida.”
Pidor is not afraid of bankruptcy or his bar folding up. “Mura ra man nag kinabuhi. Kinabuhi man na tanan. As long as wala ka nanamak og laing tao. The only way you look down on somebody is when you help him get up,” he said.
Thus, the concept of his bar, his way of life, and reggae music are likened to a lion.
Indulging in photography and tattoo art, this budding entrepreneur looks at business management like managing one’s life. “Dili man siguro ka gusto madaut imong kinabuhi?” he said, adding that he learned accounting skill from his experience as cashier in the wholesale store of his grandfather, Miguel Obas, Sr., in Kidapawan City.
Pidor borrowed P150,000 for start-up capital from his very supportive parents, Napoleon and Sonia Obas. That amount was supposed to be spent for his new journey to New Zealand. Since his graduation from college, Pidor has practiced financial independence by not asking for money from his parents but did pictorials of weddings to earn an income. He intends to pay back what he borrowed from them to start his business.
But, this independent and self-proclaimed overconfident man has respect and regard for his family. “Importante gyud ang pamilya. Pag-end sa imong life, ang gusto lang man nimo malipay ang imong pamilya. A fool dreams of wealth; a wise man of happiness,” he said.
Advocating his concept and motto, Pidor’s next goal is to have more lions, not only in the city but in the whole country. He refers to lions as both his bar to have more branches, and, as a kind of people who stand up in times of defeat.
As to registered nurses who may or may not have the chance to follow their dreams to work abroad, this nurse-turned-entrepreneur said, “Don’t just survive. Live.” He said most overseas Filipino workers left their loved ones for happiness, which is to earn more money. But, when one has already earned his or her happiness, he continued, who would he or she share it with?
“Like reggae, always welcome life,” Pidor said, smiling.
